Tool Use - AI Conversations

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Claude Code is evolving from a terminal-based developer tool into the Everything Agent that manages your entire life. In this episode, Eric Buess returns to show us how he built a hands-free, voice-controlled AI system that handles everything from school emails and calendar scheduling to monitoring family text messages. We dive deep into advanced Claude Code strategies, including how to use the hook system to intercept model prompts and the Ralph Wickham loop to enable truly autonomous task completion. Eric explains why he moved away from static claude.md files in favor of programmatic hooks that steer the model with surgical precision. We also explore the power of adversarial sub-agents that fact-check AI claims and the Titus wake word system that lets him command his terminal from a car or Meta Ray-Ban glasses. Whether you are a developer looking to maximize the Anthropic Agent SDK or a productivity enthusiast wanting to reclaim your time, this masterclass in agentic workflows will change how you think about AI automation.

Keep up with Eric: https://ericbuess.ai

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00:00:00 - Intro
00:02:20 - The Claude Code Hook System & Vertical Stack
00:03:08 - Why Agentic Hooks Matter for Automation
00:11:58 - Replacing claude.md with JSON Rules & Hooks
00:16:43 - Multi-Agent Workflows & Adversarial Validation
00:29:58 - Autonomous Task Loops & Self-Referential Injection
00:41:00 - Hands-Free AI: Voice-Controlled Claude Code

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Tool Use is a weekly conversation with the top AI experts.

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Sukh Saini, an exited founder and the creator of Engyne, joins Tool Use to break down the essential strategies for AI product distribution and personal branding. With a track record of 38 products, Sukh shares how he transitioned from a self-proclaimed horrible employee to a successful entrepreneur by mastering the business loop of building, selling, and scaling. This episode covers the vital shift from managing multiple low-revenue apps to focusing on exponential growth through high-conviction projects like Retail, which he sold after finding a unique distribution edge within the Stripe marketplace.

Learn why building in public is a massive advantage for establishing trust and why marketplaces like Canva, Stripe, and the ChatGPT store are the next big frontiers for indie developers. Sukh also details his practical framework for validating demand through industry research and hypothesis-driven customer calls, ensuring you solve high-value problems before writing a single line of code. Whether you are interested in B2B SaaS, AI app stores, or building a thought leadership brand on LinkedIn, this conversation provides a tactical playbook for any builder looking to win in the AI era.

Engyne: https://engyne.ai/
Sukh's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sssaini/

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00:00:00 - Intro
00:01:21 - How to build a winning product loop
00:04:26 - Mastering product distribution and the Stripe marketplace
00:08:12 - Why building a collection of small apps is a mistake
00:14:56 - Validating SaaS demand before writing code
00:21:56 - Tactical framework for finding customer pain points
00:27:59 - The competitive advantage of building in public
00:42:27 - Unlocking distribution through the ChatGPT app store

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Tool Use is a weekly conversation with the top AI experts.

Join the Tool Use Discord: https://discord.gg/PnEGyXpjaX

Master your AI career in 2026 with this comprehensive guide on how to get a job in AI as a developer or non-technical professional. Mike Bird, AI and Engineering Lead at BoxOne Ventures, breaks down his personal journey from software developer to AI leader and shares insider secrets on the modern hiring process. Learn why traditional resumes are failing in the age of AI screeners and why you should embrace building in public, networking at AI Tinkerers events, and creating obnoxious resumes to stand out from thousands of bot-driven applications. Whether you are looking to become an AI engineer, a specialized AI consultant, or the AI champion at your current company, this episode provides actionable strategies on leveraging tools like Claude Code, Cursor, and more to proof-of-concept your way into the fastest-growing industry in human history. We dive deep into the technical skills required for 2026, including managing fleets of AI agents and mastering security audits, while also addressing career pivots for those in their 40s or 50s.

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00:00:00 - Intro
00:01:02 - Career Pivot Strategy: From Dev to AI Lead
00:03:35 - Beat AI Screeners: The Case for the "Obnoxious" Resume
00:10:43 - 2026 AI Engineer Interview: Technical Screens & Vibe Checks
00:16:08 - AI Consulting vs Productizing: Knowledge Arbitrage Tips
00:20:08 - Build in Public: How to Increase Your AI Luck Surface Area
00:25:30 - Non-Technical Strategy: Becoming an AI Champion
00:30:32 - Realistically how long it takes to transition into AI
00:36:26 - Is it too late to learn AI if you are 40+ or 50+?

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Tool Use is a weekly conversation with the top AI experts.

Join the Tool Use Discord: https://discord.gg/PnEGyXpjaX

In this 2025 year-end wrap-up, we dive deep into the massive shifts in the AI landscape, from the surprise release of GPT-5.2 to the rise of open source models like DeepSeek. Mike Bird and Richardson Dackam reflect on a year defined by accelerating iteration cycles, the growing energy bottleneck for data centers, and the emergence of reasoning models that have changed how we approach complex tasks. We also look ahead to 2026, predicting the evolution of browser agents, the integration of AI in physical robotics, and why the next frontier of artificial general intelligence might actually be found in biological simulation. Whether you are interested in fine-tuning open models, the future of AI-generated content, or how programmable payments through crypto will enable the agentic future, this episode covers the essential trends every AI builder needs to know.

Check out Richardson's work
https://www.nshipyard.com/

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00:00:00 - Intro
00:00:26 - Frontier Model Race: Gemini 3 vs GPT-5.2
00:07:27 - Open Source AI and the DeepSeek Market Shock
00:12:06 - The Future of AI Interfacing: Voice & Multimodality
00:30:39 - Browser Agents and Agentic Tools for 2026
00:41:58 - Physical AI: The Humanoid Robot Revolution
00:48:20 - The Next Frontier: Why Biology is the Bottleneck for AGI

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Tool Use is a weekly conversation with the top AI experts.

Join the Tool Use Discord: https://discord.gg/PnEGyXpjaX

Discover how to master your executive function and reclaim your schedule with AI. In Episode 71 of Tool Use, Sam Julien (Director of Developer Relations and Experience at Writer) joins Mike Bird to explore how AI acts as the ultimate equalizer for productivity and mental clarity. We dive deep into practical strategies for reducing the time tax of administrative drudgery, using AI voice-to-text for brain dumping, and leveraging models as rubber duck brainstorming partners. Whether you are navigating new parenthood, managing a fast-paced career, or looking to avoid burnout, this conversation covers the micro-skills that lead to massive quality-of-life improvements. From using local Whisper models for privacy to the role of AI in creative work, learn how to stop the brain rot and start using technology to find your flow.

Learn more about Sam Julien:
http://www.samjulien.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/samjulien/

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https://x.com/MikeBirdTech
https://x.com/samjulien

00:00:00 - Intro
00:01:21 - Validating AI Engineering: Moving from Hype to Reality
00:02:14 - Mastering Executive Function with AI Voice Dictation
00:06:53 - AI as a Brainstorming Partner and Rubber Duck
00:15:36 - Solving the ROI Challenge: Context Engineering vs. Drudgery
00:18:43 - Leveraging AI to Prevent Burnout and Admin Fatigue
00:26:14 - Navigating AI Monoculture and Preserving Human Connection

Subscribe for more insights on AI tools, productivity, and executive function.

Tool Use is a weekly conversation with the top AI experts.